Building boom shows no sign of letting up

The building boom in Madras shows no sign of letting up. Since the beginning of the year, the city of Madras has approved 12 new subdivisions, which will eventually hold 1,030 homes. Another four subdivisions with 190 more homes will be on the upcoming agendas for the Madras Planning Commission. "We've had unprecedented growth in subdivisions in the past year," said Chuck McGraw, director of the Community Development Department. "All the easy pieces are in the process of being platted and developed." The four newest subdivisions, approved July 19, include Willowbrook, under development by PacWest II Inc., located in northwest Madras on the former golf course, with 153 lots; SunRidge, by PacWest, located in west Madras, north of Belmont, with 150 lots; Miller Crossing, by Double G Ranch LLC, located south of SunRidge, south of Belmont, with 50 lots; and Kinkade Crossing, by Hagedorn Builders, located south of B Street and west of City View, with 15 lots. Others approved this year include two on the northeast side of Madras, Cascade View Estates with 230 lots and Oak Terrace Estates with 20 lots; four on the east side, near City View and Grizzly Road, Sunset View with 30 lots, Grizzly Estates with 41 lots, Meridian Park with 88 lots, and Willow Heights with 39 lots; one on the southeast side, The Ridge, with 161 homes, southwest of Strawberry Heights; and one on the south side, Fairground Estates with 50 homes. "None of those approved this year are turning dirt yet," McGraw added, noting that after they receive approval from the planning commission, construction plans must be developed and reviewed. In the next round of applications, Yarrow, the new eastside master-planned community by the Madras Land Development Company, will ask for approval for 168 lots; and three other developers will seek approval for five- to nine-lot parcels. McGraw expects there will be fewer subdivision applications in the future. "I do see us slowing down as far as subdivisions go because we're running out of lots. There will be more infill subdivisions," he said. That doesn't mean the city staff won't be as busy. "I do anticipate more site reviews for commercial and industrial projects," he said, noting that the city recently received an application from Taco Bell and the new Madras hotel. Taco Bell would be located between Fourth and Fifth streets, on the block between B and C streets. The new hotel would be located across U.S. Highway 26 from Safeway.